Barbecued Chicken & Aubergine Salad | Book of Elsa

This chicken taste best if left to marinade overnight but at least 30 minutes is just fine. 

aubergine salad

don't mind the throw away bbq

smells so good

marinaded chicken ready to go!

Steamed Fish, Courgette Salad & Bagna Cauda | Book of Elsa

A simple weeknight supper: go on, you know you want to...

Spread some butter on aluminium foil.

Put fish on top of butter 'base'

Add more butter, salt and pepper on  top of the fish; I'm using basa fillet but obviously you can use any fish you desire. 

Wrap a tightly sealed package, then bake in a very hot oven for 15 minutes.

Courgette salad ingredients: salt, lemon juice and finely sliced courgettes

Bagna Cauda ingredients: anchovies, butter, garlic and rapeseed oil (or you can use olive oil)

Grate the garlic and finely mince the anchovies and put into the cold oil

On medium heat whisk in the butter one cube at a time

serve the sauce with some steamed potatoes, salad and the steamed fish. 

Cucumber and Yoghurt Salad | Book of Elsa

Technically speaking this is not a salad but more of a dip/side dish. Try it just once with some plain roast chicken and warm pitta. I dare you. The proof of this 'salad' really is in the eating. I suppose it is twist on the tzatziki sauce from Greece if I were to think about it but honestly, I just love the taste of the cool cucumber and yoghurt against the heat of the onion and chilli.

Red Prawn & Mango Curry - Book of Elsa

Red Prawn & Mango Curry

As I write, it occurs to me just how simple this recipe is but also how delicious it tastes. This serves 4 depending on appetites and which carbohydrate you are serving it with. I prefer rice but noodles of any kind would work too or even served soupily out of bowls with naan or other types of bread. There are no limits!! Also bear in mind the vegetables I used were ones I had in fridge at the time of cooking so please feel free to add (or leave out) ones you want. 

happy cooking!

Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Apple & Almond Cake - Book of Elsa

Gluten Free and contains absolutely no FAT - Basically healthy (sugar doesn't count, right?)

Enjoy!

xo

Happy Sunday - Book of Elsa

Happy Sunday,

Today is the second Sunday in March and it officially feels like spring is here. After the winter we've had I believe some sunshine is long overdue. Therefore below is a video from my very recent holiday to the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.

Hope you enjoy and have a great end to your weekend.

Elsa

xxo

Bread - The Staff of Life

Welcome, to Book of Elsa!
For those who visit my site often carbohydrates are a common sight. The truth is, I love them (too much some might say) in all forms... BREAD being very high on the list.
This is NOT my first attempt at baking bread from scratch; this is NOT my 10th attempt either. I can honestly write that I've wasted tonnes of flour trying to achieve the perfect staff of life and that I kept failing. Badly. All I ever had to show for my efforts were badly shaped, flour covered rocks with the texture of sawdust.
Until this recipe here by Paul Hollywood. Anyone, can make this. I promise.
Elsa, XXO

PRIMARK HAUL

WELCOME BACK!
HOLIDAY SHOPPING IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS....
XO

Feliz Cinco de Mayo - Pina Colada

Welcome back!
Cinco de Mayo has been and gone, it is a favourite holiday of mine because it generally means I can indulge in Tequila. This year however, I felt like a change and went for the rum route. Coconut Rum to be exact (my love for all things coco is legendary).
Here is the recipe for my Pina Colada:

Random Pictures Collage - Elsa

Welcome back!

I've got a LOT of random photos on my laptop. Thought I'd put some in a video. Enjoy!

XO

Katy B - Drunk In Love / Vulnerable (Cover)

Don't think there's a version of this song I won't love by default.

What do you think?

xo

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night - Dylan Thomas

Welcome to my Blog!!

2014 marks the centenary of Dylan Thomas’ birth; to celebrate the life and times of Swansea’s most famous son, I began reading some of his works. The one below is a favourite of mine because I believe it's a warning to live life to its fullest. That even if you're going down not to make it easy on yourself 'That Good Night' signifies death to me. Keep Fighting.
What do you think this poem is about??
Elsa xo

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Easter BBQ

Hi, Welcome back to my Blog
Easter Sunday was family day round ours; I made 'red' rice, BBQ chicken and sausages and a small carrot salad.
Enjoy the video,
XO

Sunday, 20th April 2014

Happy Easter Sunday everyone!

Back by popular demand here is my Week In Pictures:

Beauty Benefits of Coconut Oil - A Fab Life video

Welcome back to my Blog!
I love everything coconut related. I love eating it, drinking it (both milk and cream), cooking with it, applying it to my hair; Making DIYs stuff for my hair and skin care as regulars visiting my Blog will know...
So, I thought I'd share a video made by one of my favourite Youtubers: A Fab Life showing the benefits and uses of coconut oil, better than I ever could.
Enjoy,
XXO

The Likes of Us - Elsa

Aspirations were not meant for the likes of us
We cannot afford to pay its price
Private schools, elite universities
Legalised gangs and clubs: entry by credit card only.
£20,000 minimum.
This not so simple five letter word brings with it
Problems the likes of us cannot comprehend.
It means seeing beyond the special confines of our lives
Time has taught the likes of us our destiny is to be nothing
Below everyone else only good enough to serve
The likes of us should never read. Why, reading is the same as
Being glued to front of a warm bread filled bakery with an empty stomach
And equally empty pockets.
The likes of us accept our fate not because we want to;
The likes of us accept our fate because once we do we can feel much better.
The likes of us have our dreams stuck in the back of our throats claggy and sticky
Corrupted by fate, circumstance and experience.
Till they are no more than annoying distractions.
The likes of us, like the rest you just want to be happy.

Best Hair Mask In The World

Hi, welcome back to my blog!
I've been playing around with different hair masks for a few weeks now; changing the protein content egg, banana, avocado or a combination. Various oils, binding agents to make a better texture for application to different hair types. This next 'recipe' is in my opinion THE BEST HAIR MASK IN THE WORLD. Hope you like it. Happy Hair Day!! You scroll down to the very short video...

PS: Technically the mixture is edible, but please do not eat it. Taste Vile.

First Day at Work - Truth

Got lost going to work this morning, my first day.
Got to a roundabout no idea where to go, thinking I'm going to lose this job before I even start.
Fighting back tears I called my recruitment agent and he drove me there (ashamed is the word)
Hope I haven't ruined everything

Book Review - Bitten by Kelley Armstrong

Hi and Welcome back to my blog,
Recently finished reading Bitten by Kelley Armstrong, here's my review.
Its a first book in a series about supernatural beings such as werewolves, focuses on a female werewolf called Elena who is trying to escape 'pack' life. Very easy read, but won't change your life.
XXO

Week In Pictures - Montage Edition

Hi!
Welcome back to my blog!
This week is a bit different because it's in video form. Hope you enjoy it, comment if you like and would like to see more. As always
Thanks for watching....
XXO